Physician Assistants (PAs) support physicians in a range of health care settings and work alongside physicians, nurses and other members of interprofessional health care teams to provide patient care.

PAs were introduced to Ontario’s health care system in 2007 through a joint initiative between the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and the Ontario Medical Association. Since 2007, PAs have been integrated into a number of clinical settings and two university-based PA Education Programs have been established in Ontario.

There are now over 200 PAs working as part of interdisciplinary care teams in over 100 sites across the province. These PAs are helping to decrease wait times, and improve patient access in high need areas including emergency medicine and primary care.